The Times canoe trip review
Highlights from a national write up of the Shropshire stretch, what they noticed and how you can paddle a similar journey.
As featured in The Times
Travel writer Sarah Baxter paddled the River Severn and wrote about it in The Times on 30 June 2022, describing a four day Shropshire journey from Crewgreen to Upper Arley, roughly 65 miles.
Source: Drifting down the River Severn on a “dreamy canoe trip made easy” – The Times, 30 June 2022
Why this feature matters
It is not every day that Britain’s longest river appears in a national newspaper travel section. The feature picked up on exactly what we love about this Shropshire stretch, steady miles, characterful towns and a sense of adventure that feels close to home but still properly away.
The journey followed the same core route we use today: Crewgreen to Upper Arley at around 65 miles, drifting past Shrewsbury, under the red ribs of Ironbridge and on toward Bridgnorth. The quiet water, wildlife and unhurried feel they wrote about are still here.
In their words
The piece made a simple point, you do not need an Amazon scale expedition to feel like you are on a real journey.
- Calling the Severn a place where a long held dream of a river journey can be fulfilled closer to home.
- Describing a four day downstream adventure from Crewgreen to Upper Arley as “adventure enough” for this trip.
- Picking out the moment of paddling under Ironbridge and looking up into its exposed red ironwork.
You can read the full article on the Times website (subscription may be required).
The experience captured
- Rhythm of the river: gentle paddling, long green reflections and time to sit with the flow instead of rushing.
- Town to town: stepping off the river into the streets of Shrewsbury and later the old centres of Ironbridge and Bridgnorth.
- Small details: sand martins over the shallows, evening light on the water and quiet, simple camps.
The article focuses on a four day Shropshire itinerary, not the full length of the river, which is why we now frame this as the heart of our Shropshire trips.
Plan a similar River Severn journey
- Three or four day Shropshire Special: closely mirrors the feature route between Crewgreen, Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth or Upper Arley.
- Five or seven day Big Severn Adventure: continues beyond Shropshire through Worcester toward Gloucester and the docks.
- Solo Traveller three day trips: small group format on the same Shropshire reach for people travelling on their own.
Exact daily distances vary by dates, river levels and how you like to balance paddling with time in towns.
What is included on these trips
Included
- Two person open canoe with webbed seats
- Buoyancy aids, paddles and waterproof barrels
- Hosted launch with full route and safety briefing
- Live GPS tracking and daily check ins
- Support and flexible pick up options at agreed points
Not included
- Accommodation, whether camping or B and B, you choose your style
- Meals, drinks and personal spending
- Travel to Shrewsbury
Plan your own river story
If this feature sparked something for you, we can shape dates, pace and overnights into a trip that fits your life.